“A Perfect Getaway”: Review Roundup

The two couples from “A Perfect Getaway,” which really means vacation from hell.

In “A Perfect Getaway,” newlyweds Cliff and Cydney — played by Steve Zahn and MillaJovovich – trek to Hawaii for the perfect honeymoon and surprise, surprise, things go horribly awry. As the critics are quick to point out, however, there’s a twist ending that (somewhat) redeems the rest of the film. Take a look at what some of the reviewers had to say:

“Are you in the mood for mean, lean entertainment, some gratuitous R-rated nudity, totally unnecessary bloodletting and a slam-bang twist of the narrative knife? A B-movie-style throwback that’s consistently diverting and blissfully free of morals and messages, “A Perfect Getaway” is just the thing for the summertime movie blahs: it’s a genuinely satisfying cheap thrill.” [NYT]

“Once the surprise is out, the film grows clumsier and more gruesome, but it definitely has entertaining moments along the way.” [USA Today]

“‘A Perfect Getaway’’ may be a lousy title for a suspense thriller, but once you see the film, it does make a certainmulti-leveled sense. In the same way, the movie itself turns out to be a neatly crafted B-movie pleasure – nothing fancy, but the gasps, screams, and (mostly) intentional laughs are there. Anyway, “The Honeymoon Killers’’ was already taken.” [Boston Globe]

“I enjoyed the acting. Steve Zahn is at last being liberated from the doofus characters he specialized in, and allowed into the IQ mainstream. MillaJovovich sure does a mighty fine rural Georgia accent for a girl from the Ukraine. Timothy Olyphant is convincing as a man who is impossible to kill, as is Kiele Sanchez as a woman who likes that aspect of his character. The plot will require some discussion after the film is over. Is it misleading? Yes. Does it cheat? I think not. It only seems to cheat. That’s part of the effect. All’s fair in love and war, and the plots of thrillers.” [Sun-Times]

“A Perfect Getaway” is a clever, heart-pounding thriller, and a welcome return to form for the director. It probably has a thousandth the visual effects budget of the “Riddick” movie, lasting 97 minutes without a single explosion. But the acting is strong and the director sets a bold, interesting pace – at times verging on collapsing the fourth wall between the actors and the audience. It’s the type of B-movie throwaway thriller that studios program as secondary films during the summer blockbuster season, but Twohy refuses to just go through the motions.” [SF Gate]

“Any film reviewer who uses the term “without giving anything away . . .” is essentially giving something away, because he or she is revealing there’s something to give away. Suffice to say that on the basis of only one viewing, Twohy’s thriller/romance/travelogue seems to have enough red herrings on board to scuttle a cruise ship to Waikiki. Of course, the major difference between movies that make money and movies that make real money is repeat business. “A Perfect Getaway” should make a killing, because audiences will be heading back before the credits are over just to see if the damn thing made any sense.” [Washington Post]